New Mexico County Becomes First County in America to Ban Abortions

More and more elected officials in New Mexico are taking action to protect unborn babies amid growing concerns about their state becoming a destination spot for abortions.

On Thursday, the Lea County Commissioners voted unanimously to pass a Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance – the first county in the nation to do so, said Mark Lee Dickson, director of Right to Life of East Texas and founder of the Sanctuary City for the Unborn movement. More than 60 cities also have passed ordinances.

The “Ordinance Requiring Compliance of Federal Laws Governing Abortion” passed in a 5-0 vote after several local residents and commissioners spoke about the community’s expressed desire to take a stand against abortion. It prohibits mail-order abortions.

“This is an issue that’s got the country divided, but there’s a right thing to do,” Commissioner Gary Eidson said prior to the vote.

Lea County is located on the eastern border of New Mexico. When Texas began protecting unborn babies through its historic heartbeat law last year, the abortion industry turned its sights to New Mexico border towns. New Mexico allows abortions for any reason without restriction – making it easy for abortion facilities to do a lucrative business killing babies in the womb.

Commissioner Pat Sims spoke emotionally about the New Mexico pro-abortion laws before voting yes on the ordinance.

ACTION ALERT: Tell the Lea County Commissioners thank you by going here.

“I am appalled and ashamed that we’re even sitting her discussing killing babies. Shame on all of us for even talking about full-term abortion,” Sims said.

According to information from Dickson, the ordinance only designates part of the county as a sanctuary for unborn babies. Incorporated cities within Lea County, including Eunice, Jal, Lovington and Tatum, must pass their own ordinances, Dickson said.

The City of Hobbs already passed a similar ordinance, and Lovington Mayor Robbie Roberts said their city is considering doing the same. During public comment Thursday, Roberts praised the commissioners for listening to their constituents and recognizing “the importance of life.”

“It takes a lot of strength to stand up and vote your heart on an issue” that divides the nation, Roberts said. “I applaud you for pursuing through this,” despite threats of lawsuits from abortion supporters, he continued. “We support you.”

Lori Bova, a local resident and leader with Right to Life of Lea County, also thanked the commissioners for listening to local residents after they learned that Whole Woman’s Health, an abortion chain that began in Texas, was planning to move to Lea County.

“Because of your swift action and the action of the City of Hobbs, the second largest abortion provider in our country has done an about-face and decided to withdraw from our community. Their property deal fell through,” Bova said.

Pro-life advocates with Abortion on Trial recently learned the abortion chain purchased a property on Lomas Boulevard in Albuquerque instead under the name “Stirrups.”

“While the news of their arrival is not good news for Albuquerque, the news does reveal that the efforts of the Sanctuary Cities For the Unborn Initiative, Right to Life Committee of Lea County, Abortion on Trial, Southwest Coalition for Life and Right to Life of East Texas were successful in helping the city and the residents of Hobbs, New Mexico keep Whole Woman’s Health out of their city,” Dickson said.

Roosevelt County, New Mexico, and other cities across the country also are considering ordinances to protect unborn babies from abortion this winter.

A growing grassroots movement is working to protect unborn babies at the local level. To-date, more than 60 cities in Texas, Ohio, Nebraska and New Mexico have passed Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinances that protect unborn babies by banning abortions and/or abortion facilities within city limits.

Other cities and counties have passed pro-life resolutions, which are statements of support but not enforceable law, that recognize unborn babies’ right to life. In Arkansas, 19 counties and 10 cities and towns have passed pro-life resolutions, according to Family Council of Arkansas. Several North Carolina counties passed pro-life resolutions recently, too, and the New Mexico county commissioners of Otero approved a resolution in July condemning the pro-abortion laws in their state.

ACTION ALERT: Tell the Lea County Commissioners thank you by going here.

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